Team has proved adept in helping raw, young talent become key cogs in lineup

Updated 8:48 am, Thursday, August 28, 2014

49ers safety Antoine Bethea practiced his interception technique in front of Dontae Johnson Thursday July 31, 2014. The San Francisco 49ers held a workout at their Santa Clara, Calif. facility in the shadow of Levi's Stadium. less

49ers safety Antoine Bethea practiced his interception technique in front of Dontae Johnson Thursday July 31, 2014. The San Francisco 49ers held a workout at their Santa Clara, Calif. facility in the shadow of ... more

Kenneth Acker (38) tackles Denver's Gerell Robinson (89) in the second half as the 49ers play the Denver Broncos in the first preseason game at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, August 17, 2014.

Kenneth Acker (38) tackles Denver's Gerell Robinson (89) in the second half as the 49ers play the Denver Broncos in the first preseason game at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, August 17, 2014.

Tramaine Brock, an undrafted free agent signed by the 49ers in 2010, is now a starting cornerback for the team.

Tramaine Brock, an undrafted free agent signed by the 49ers in 2010, is now a starting cornerback for the team.

Photo: Matt York, Associated Press

Niners find way to transform unrefined DBs into key cogs

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The 49ers love to find a bargain. Especially when it comes to defensive backs.

San Francisco annually rummages through the NFL bargain bin to find one or two gems in the late rounds of the draft. Sometimes they find a keeper among the annual pool of undrafted free agents.

Look no further than the starting cornerbacks for proof.

On one side you have Tramaine Brock, signed as an undrafted free agent in 2010 after his three-school college career ended at Belhaven (Miss.) University. On the other side, Chris Culliver was a 2011 third-round pick who began at South Carolina as a wide receiver, transitioned to safety and only played corner during an injury-shortened senior season.

The 49ers credit a strong group of scouts, coaches and talent evaluators who spot these undervalued assets, allowing the team to spend higher draft picks and more money on other positions. It's the football version of "Moneyball."

"They come in there with their sleeves rolled up, and we've got a lot of guys to get through," said secondary coach Ed Donatell, describing the team's process for locating undiscovered talent. "They supply all the information and, with that combined collaboration, we identify a couple guys and we get them if they fall. They are identifying guys that have traits. They may not be totally complete, but they have qualities we're looking for."

The 49ers prefer that their bargain, often unpolished, cornerbacks have height, long arms and speed.

The evaluation process often starts with regional scout Bob Morris, a Division I secondary coach for 20 years. Then there's Quentus Cumby, a former defensive back at Kentucky who works in the 49ers' personnel department. Closer to the draft, it involves Donatell, who joined the 49ers in 2011, and assistant secondary coach Greg Jackson, who spent 12 years in the NFL as a safety.

In 2010, the 49ers selected South Carolina State's Phillip Adams, now a four-year veteran playing with the Seahawks, in the seventh round. Last year, the 49ers signed another small-school corner - Texas State's Darryl Morris - as an undrafted free agent. At 5-foot-10, Morris doesn't have the size the 49ers prefer, but possesses elite speed and played in 13 games as a rookie.

They've also done well evaluating safeties: 2013 first-round pick Eric Reid made the Pro Bowl as an alternate last year, and Michael Thomas, who went undrafted in 2012, is with the Dolphins. Before the 2013 draft, Cumby championed the cause of a college cornerback with a skimpy resume: Marcus Cooper.

At Rutgers, Cooper made three starts and had one interception, but Cumby saw something. Cooper, 6-foot-2 and 192 pounds, had the requisite height and long arms. In addition, he was a prolific high school wide receiver, which suggested he also had above-average ball skills.

Based largely on Cumby's recommendation, the 49ers selected Cooper with the third-to-last pick of the 254-player draft.

Now, 16 months later, Cooper's case offers more evidence that the 49ers are on to something when it comes to identifying NFL cornerbacks.

Because of their loaded roster, the 49ers released Cooper last summer with hopes of signing him to their practice squad, but the Chiefs claimed him off waivers. As a rookie, Cooper made six starts, had three interceptions and defended 18 passes, 12 more than he managed in his nondescript college career.

"Marcus was called on to play in Kansas City earlier; he might not have been able to play as much here," Donatell said. "The main thing is we know we're onto the right guys. And that's good."

And Donatell, a former defensive coordinator with the Packers and Falcons, has played a significant post-draft role as one of the league's top secondary coaches. Rookie cornerback Dontae Johnson, a fourth-round pick who was primarily a safety in college, credits Donatell for making the transition far less daunting.

"Everything he teaches, scheme-wise, technique-wise, it's really elevated my game," Johnson said. "I feel more comfortable playing corner than safety now, and I've been a safety most of my life."

So, along with Johnson, who are the 49ers' latest potential finds?

In May, they drafted cornerback Jimmie Ward in the first round and selected SMU's Kenneth Acker in the sixth. Ward appears to have earned the slot cornerback role, while Acker has also impressed.

During a third-quarter series against the Broncos on Aug. 17, Acker batted away a pass, drew an offensive pass-interference penalty and had an interception nullified by an offside penalty. In Sunday's 21-7 win over San Diego, he made his mark on special teams with a team-high three tackles.

Still, Acker is battling for a spot on a loaded roster spot, meaning, like Cooper, he could flourish elsewhere after getting his start with the 49ers.

"The more guys that we know that get to keep living this dream, that's our goal," Donatell said. "I hope they're all here, but we coach the heck out of them and hope they succeed somewhere."

Well covered

A look at the cornerbacks the 49ers drafted from 2010-13 and some of the notables they've signed as free agents:

2013

Seventh round: CB Marcus Cooper, Chiefs (Rutgers) - The 49ers hoped to sign him to the practice squad, but the Chiefs claimed him off waivers. Cooper made six starts and had three INTs as a rookie.

Undrafted free agent: Darryl Morris, 49ers (Texas State) - Morris' speed (4.33-second 40-yard dash) showed up on special teams as a rookie when he appeared in 13 games.

2011

Third round: Chris Culliver, 49ers (South Carolina) - After missing last year with an ACL tear, will assume a starting role this season. He was the No. 3 CB in 2011 and '12.

Seventh round: Curtis Holcomb, Florida A&M - Tore his Achilles during a training-camp conditioning test as a rookie and never played in an NFL game.

2010

Seventh round: Phillip Adams, Seahawks (South Carolina State) - Has played 53 games in a four-year career that's included four starts and three INTs.

Undrafted free agent: Tramaine Brock, 49ers (Belhaven University) - He signed a four-year, $14 million last season. His signing bonus as an undrafted rookie: $150.

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